The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The term is most commonly used to refer to those eight schools considered as a group. The term is also connected with academic excellence, selectivity in admissions, and social elitism(精英主义).
The term became official, especially in sports terminology, after the formation of the NCAA Division I athletic conference in 1954, when much of the nation polarized around favorite college teams. “IV” was used because originally the league consisted only of four members. The use of the phrase is no longer limited to athletics, and now represents an educational philosophy inherent to ( 固有的，内在的)the nation's oldest schools. In addition, Ivy League schools are often viewed by the public as some of the most prestigious （著名的）universities worldwide and are often ranked amongst the best universities in the United States and worldwide. The eight institutions are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.
All of the Ivy League's institutions place near the top in the U.S. News & World Reportcollege and university rankings and rank within the top one percent of the world's academic institutions in terms of financial endowment(捐助). Seven of the eight schools were founded during America's colonial period; the exception is Cornell, which was founded in 1865. Ivy League institutions, therefore, account for seven of the nine Colonial Colleges chartered before the American Revolution. The Ivies are all in the Northeast geographic region of the United States. All eight schools receive millions of dollars in research grants and other subsidies from federal and state government.
Undergraduate enrollments among the Ivy League schools range from about 4,000 to 14,000, making them larger than those of a typical private liberal arts college and smaller than a typical public state university. Ivy League university financial endowments range from Brown's $2.01 billion to Harvard's $26 billion, the largest financial endowment of any academic institution in the world.Which meaning can the term “the Ivy League” convey today?
| A．The largest enrollment. | B．The strongest government support. |
| C．The most expensive schools. | D．First-class education. |
From the passage, we know the word “Ivy” in “the Ivy League” was first chosen to refer to _______.
| A．a plant | B．a number | C．a sport | D．a spirit |
Which of the following statements is true?
| A．There is no longer sports competition in the Ivy League. |
| B．Seven colleges were set up before the USA was founded. |
| C．Brown University has the smallest number of students. |
| D．Typical public state universities are larger than the Ivies. |
What is special about Cornell University in the League?
| A．It is the oldest one. | B．It was founded by colonists. |
| C．It has the smallest endowment. | D．It is the youngest one. |
Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?
| A．The ABC of “The Ivy League” |
| B．Best Universities in the USA |
| C．The Financial Income of American Universities |
| D．How to Apply to an Ivy League University |
Why do some people flush when they drink alcohol? This effect is a common reaction to alcohol among East Asians. It affects about 36 percent of Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.
For many, even a small amount of alcohol can cause unpleasant effects. Most commonly, their face, neck and sometimes their whole body turn red. People might also feel uncomfortable and sick to their stomach. They might experience a burning sensation, increased heart rate, shortness of breath and headaches.
The cause is a genetic difference that they are born with called an ALDH2 deficiency (缺乏). It prevents their bodies from treating alcohol the way other people do. But the effects might be more serious than just a red face. Researchers warn of a link between this condition and an increased risk of cancer of the esophagus (食道) from drinking alcohol.
The more alcohol people with this deficiency drink, the greater their risk is. In Japan and South Korea, for example, many people have the deficiency but still drink heavily. Researchers found that these drinkers develop a form of esophageal cancer six to ten times more often than those without the deficiency.
Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. It can be treated when found early, but once it grows the chances of survival drop sharply. The researchers estimate that at least five hundred forty million people have the deficiency, about eight percent of the world’s population.
Philip Brooks is a researcher at the National Institute in the United States. He says it is important to educate people about the link between the alcohol flushing effect and esophageal cancer. He says doctors should ask East Asian patients about their experiences with facial flushing after drinking alcohol. Those with a history of it should be advised to limit their alcohol use. They should also be warned that cigarette smoking works with the alcohol in a way that further increases the risk of esophageal cancer.The underlined word “flush” in Paragraph 1 probably means “_________”.
| A．walk unsteadily | B．turn red in the face |
| C．appear unpleasant | D．talk more than usual |
The second paragraph is mainly about _________.
| A．the cause of the effects of alcohol |
| B．Asians and alcohol |
| C．the advantages of drinking alcohol |
| D．unpleasant effects caused by alcohol |
We can infer from the passage that _________.
| A．about 36 percent of Japanese, Chinese and Koreans are heavy drinkers |
| B．the ALDH2 deficiency may be passed on from generation to generation |
| C．unpleasant effects occur only when people with this deficiency drink a lot |
| D．only some East Asians have the ALDH2 deficiency |
Esophageal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers because _________.
| A．it can’t be treated at all |
| B．it is hard to be discovered early |
| C．it is hard to cure once it has developed |
| D．people are usually addicted to alcohol |
Cell Phones Are the New Cigarettes
When you get in your car, you reach for it．When you’re at work, you take a break to have a moment alone with it．When you get into a lift, you play with it．
Cigarettes? Cup of coffee? No, it’s the third most addictive thing in modern life, the cell phone．And experts say it is becoming more difficult for many people to curbtheir longing to hug it more tightly than most of their personal relationships．
With its shiny surface, its smooth and satisfying touch, its air of complexity, the cell phone connects us to the world even as it disconnects us from people three feet away．In just the past couple of years, the cell phone has challenged individuals, employers, phone makers and counselors（顾问）in ways its inventors in the late 1940s never imagined．
The costs are becoming even more evident, and I don’t mean just the monthly bill．Dr．Chris Knippers, a counselor at the Betty Ford Center in Southern California, reports that the overuse of cell phones has become a social problem not much different from other harmful addictions: a barrier to one-on-one personal contact, and an escape from reality．
Sounds extreme, but we’ve all witnessed the evidence: The person at a restaurant who talks on the phone through an entire meal, ignoring his kids around the table; the woman who talks on the phone in the car, ignoring her husband; the teen who texts messages all the way home from school, avoiding contact with kids all around him．
Is it just rude, or is it a kind of unhealthiness? And pardon me, but how is this improving the quality of life?
Jim Williams, an industrial sociologist based in Massachusetts, notes that cell-phone addiction is part of a set of symptoms in a widening gulf of personal separation．He points to a study by Duke University researchers that found one-quarter of Americans say they have no one to discuss their most important personal business with．Despite the growing use of phones, e-mail and instant messaging, in other words, Williams says studies show that we don’t have as many friends as our parents. “Just as more information has led to less wisdom, more acquaintances via the Internet and cell phones have produced fewer friends,” he says．
If the cell phone has truly had these effects, it’s because it has become very widespread．Consider that in 1987, there were only 1 million cell phones in use．Today, something like 300 million Americans carry them．They far outnumber wired phones in the United States．Which of the following best explains the title of the passage?
| A．Cell phone users smoke less than they used to． |
| B．Cell phones have become as addictive as cigarettes． |
| C．More people use cell phones than smoke cigarettes． |
| D．Using cell phone is just as cool as smoking cigarettes． |
The underlined word “curb” in Paragraph 2 means ____．
| A．rescue | B．ignore | C．develop | D．control |
The example of a woman talking on the phone in the car supports the idea that ．
| A．women use cell phones more often than men |
| B．talking on the phone while driving is dangerous |
| C．cell phones do not necessarily bring people together |
| D．cell phones make one-on-one personal contact easy |
Learn a new language as quickly as possible.
Learn like a spy! Be mistaken for a native.
Pimsleur courses help people who need to speak another language quickly. Our courses took 40 years to develop and are now used by the FBI, CIA, and business professionals everywhere. They’re so effective; you have nothing to lose!
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•Language instruction that is proven to be effective
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•Eight fluency-focused lessons on four audio CDs
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Reasons to learn using the Pimsleur Approach:
•Speak without an accent so that you sound like a native.
•Practice what’s natural to you in English.
•Feel safe and confident. You’ll know how to deal with any situation.
•Protect your busy life. 30-minute lessons are perfect for your daily commuting, lunch break, or workout.
•Remember without trying. Material is scientifically arranged so that you learn without pain.
•Join 25 million people who have graduated with success since 1980.
The entire Pimsleur Approach is what language learning should be: quick, fun, and easy! Each lesson is the foundation for the next. You’ll keep building on what you’ve learned.What can prove Pimsleur courses to be successful?
| A．Full 30-day money-back guarantee. |
| B．Eight fluency-focused lessons on four audio CDs. |
| C．30-minute lessons are perfect for your daily commuting, lunch break, or workout. |
| D．25 million people have graduated with success. |
According to the text, what does the course offer?
| A．Language rules for you to recite. |
| B．Effective language instruction. |
| C．Learning a new language by repeating many times. |
| D．Opportunities to work with business professionals. |
According to the text, which of the following is NOT a reason for choosing the Pimsleur Approach?
| A．It will correct your accent. |
| B．It will build your confidence. |
| C．It will teach you how to control your balance. |
| D．It will help you remember things easily. |
It can be inferred that the text is a (n) __________.
| A．report on a new language learning method |
| B．comment on a language training organization |
| C．notice of the opening of a new course |
| D．ad of a language training organization |
Some time ago, I discovered that one of my chairs had a broken leg. I didn’t think there would be any difficulty in getting it mended , as there are a whole lot of antique (古董) shops near my home . So I left home one morning carrying the chair with me. I went into the first shop expecting a friendly reception. I was quite wrong. The man wouldn’t even look at my chair.
The second shop, though slightly more polite, was just the same, and the third and, the fourth-so I decided that my approach must be wrong.
I went into the fifth shop with a plan in my mind. I placed the chair on the floor and said to the shopkeeper, “Would you like to buy a chair?” He looked it over carefully and said, “Yes, not a bad chair. How much do you want for it, sir?” “Twenty pounds,” I said. “OK,” he said, “I’ll give you twenty pounds.” “It’s got a slightly broken leg,” I said. “Yes I saw that, it’s nothing.”
Everything was going according to plan and I was getting excited. “What will you do with it?” I asked. “Oh, it will be easy to sell once the repair is done.” “I’ll buy it,” I said. “What do you mean? You’ve just sold it to me,” he said. “Yes, I know but I’ve changed my mind. I’m sorry. I’ll give you twenty-seven pounds for it.” “You must be crazy,” he said. Then, suddenly the penny dropped. “I know what you want. You want me to repair your chair.” “You’re right,” I said. “And what would you have done if I had walked in and said, ‘Would you mend this chair for me’?” “I wouldn’t have agreed to do it,” he said. “We don’t do repairs, not enough money in it and too much trouble. But I’ll mend this for you, shall we say for a five?” He was a very nice man and was greatly amused by the whole thing.
We can learn from the text that in the first shop the writer .
| A．was rather impolite | B．was warmly received |
| C．asked the shopkeeper to buy his chair | D．asked the shopkeeper to repair his chair |
The expression “the penny dropped” in the last paragraph means the shopkeeper .
| A．changed his mind | B．saw the writer’s purpose |
| C．accepted the offer | D．decided to help the writer |
How much did the writer pay?
| A．£5 | B．£7 | C．£20 | D．£27 |
From the text, we can learn that the writer was .
| A．smart | B．careful | C．honest | D．funny |
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
Most drinks stating that they are fruit-flavored (水果味道的) contain no fruit at all, while most of the rest contain only a small quantity of fruit, according to a study carried by the British Food Commission.
“Shoppers need to check the labels (标签)before buying drinks, though sometimes the actual content can be non-existent,” said Food Commission spokesperson Ian Tokelove. “Food production is highly competitive. 1 It will increase profits, and consumers won’t always realize they are being tricked.”
Flavorings are focused on the flavors of natural food products such as fruits, meats and vegetables, or creating flavor for food products that do not have the desired flavors. Researchers analyzed the contents of 28 strawberry-flavored products sold in stores. 2 Of the 11 products that did contain strawberries, five of them contained less than one percent real fruit. In addition, each juice box contained nearly eight teaspoons of sugar.
3 Let’s take jam as an example. Some strawberry-flavored jam was labeled as containing no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners, but it contained absolutely no strawberries at all.
4 Consumers have the rights to know clearly about what they have bought. Under current UK law, food packages do not have to distinguish between natural and artificial flavoring. “Describing a product as strawberry flavor and covering the surface of the packet with pictures of strawberries is misleading. 5 Unfortunately, it is also legal and widespread,” Tokelove said. “It’s time to take measures to protect the consumers’ rights.”
| A．The products which contain real fruit are popular with people. |
| B．Even products advertised as more natural often contained no fruit. |
| C．They found that about 60 percent of them didn’t contain any fruit at all. |
| D．If companies can cut their costs by using flavoring, they are likely to do so. |
E. It is important and necessary to demand a small amount of flavoring in the products.
F. Actually the product contains just a tiny percentage of strawberry or even no fruit at all.
G. The Food Commission suggested all flavors used in a product should be listed on the packaging.
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